Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor stormed off set on Saturday morning during a tense BBC interview with presenter Naga Munchetty about Scotland Yard’s investigation into a fake Westminster peadophile ring.
Proctor, speaking via video-link on BBC Breakfast on Saturday morning, abruptly ended their conversation about Operation Midland, claiming that he was being prevented from speaking.
The interview began with Proctor describing how it felt to be caught up in the Metropolitan Police’s disastrous investigation into false claims of a VIP Westminster paedophile ring.
He said: “What happened to me was that I lost my job, my home and my repute as a result of a fantasist who were believed by the Metropolitan Police.”
As Proctor went on to criticise the Met Police and its commissioner Cressida Dick, Munchetty attempted to read out part of a statement from the force, telling the former MP: “I do need to give some right of reply here.”
The presenter has recently been at the centre of a BBC row, during which she was initially censured for her claims that comments made by the US president were “embedded in racism”.
A huge public backlash ensued, leading to the complaint against her being overruled by director general Lord Tony Hall.
Proctor went on to voice further criticism of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the BBC’s coverage of the botched police investigation that was based on false claims by Carl Beech.
He and Munchetty began to talk across each other, with Proctor claiming the BBC was “very sensitive about any criticism whatsoever that may come your way”.
“By talking across me you’re not really doing what the BBC should do, and that is to give a right to comment,” Proctor said.
“Please let me talk and I will let you talk, this is how this works,” Munchetty said as she persisted with giving the positions of the police and IOPC.
“I want to get to how this has impacted you, but I need to do my job as well,” Munchetty said.
“I respect your work very much, but you must not invite people on to your programme and then not allow them to speak,” Proctor replied.
Munchetty said: “I am allowing you to speak and I will allow you to speak, but I also need to give a right of reply rather than letting you say things that are potentially incorrect or when people don’t have a right to reply.”
Her response prompted Proctor to suddenly remove his earpiece and walk off camera, saying: “I am sorry, I am not having this.”
After his departure Munchetty said: “I think what was made very clear there is the impact that this investigation has had on his life.”
Proctor is currently suing the Met for £1 million and a settlement has yet to be reached.